The Surfing Doctors annual conference returns to G-Land, East Java, from 20 to 30 September 2026.

Once again, members will gather at one of surfing’s most iconic destinations for a week that combines medical education, professional discussion, friendship and plenty of time in the water.

Jawa Jiwa

The conference programme will be base at the Jawa Jiwa Camp and will feature a range of presentations and discussions from leading medical professionals, creating opportunities to share knowledge, explore new developments and engage with colleagues from a wide range of disciplines and backgrounds. As always, some of the most valuable conversations take place beyond the formal presentations, whether over a meal, in camp, on a boat ride or after a surf.

The collegial nature of Surfing Doctors has always been one of its strengths. The conference provides a unique opportunity to connect with fellow members, exchange ideas, discuss professional challenges and build relationships in an environment that encourages genuine interaction rather than simply attendance.

Unique Setting

G-Land remains a unique setting for the conference. The combination of world-class waves, a remote jungle location and a community of like-minded people continues to make it a highlight of the Surfing Doctors calendar.

Whether you are returning to camp or planning your first visit, now is the time to reserve the dates and secure your place.

Conference Infrastructure

Conference Dates: 20–30 September 2026
Location: G-Land, East Java, Indonesia

Registration is now open.

For registration details, membership information and conference enquiries, please visit the Contact Page on the Surfing Doctors website.

We look forward to seeing you at G-Land in September.

Read more

James Brown joins the crew

Meet SDJ Morgan

The post Save The Date: Surfing Doctors Conference 2026 At G-Land appeared first on Surfing Doctors.

Nationality

Australian.

Current Positions

Dr James Brown currently serves as:

• Medical Co-Lead, Southwest Sydney Specialist Menopause Service
• Co-Director, Women’s Health and Research Institute of Australia, Sydney NSW
• Fertility Specialist, Connect IVF

Education And Work Experience

Before studying medicine, Brown trained in journalism and worked in marketing and business management. He later completed medical school through the University of Sydney and undertook most of his junior medical officer and obstetrics and gynaecology training in Western Sydney.

Medical Interests

His primary interests are reproductive endocrinology and research, areas that have developed into a clear professional niche.

Local Surf Spot

Currently based in Sydney’s inner west, his closest surf options are Bondi Beach and Tamarama Beach.

Favourite Surf Destination

Although he has yet to head off on an overseas surf trip, Woolgoolga on the Mid North Coast remains a favourite destination.

Travel Experience

Brown has travelled across most continents, with Brazil next on the list.

Best And Worst Surf Trips

The first major surf trip adventure still lies ahead, something he is looking forward to experiencing properly for the first time.

Best Thing About Surfing

Surfing remains both rewarding and humbling, with every session offering an ongoing apprenticeship in patience, timing, and progression.

Best Surfing Advice

“If you’re not having fun, you’re not doing it right.”

Favourite Surfer

Matt Formston. Having surfed alongside him, Brown says watching Formston in the water is a genuine joy.

Current Go-To Surfboard

He is currently enjoying a 7-foot Haydenshapes Hypto Krypto.

“I was a sceptic, but have been converted.”

Socials

LinkedIn: James Brown LinkedIn Profile

Read more:

Samuel Morgan Joins The Surfing Doctors –

Nicholas Rex Joins The Crew

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It’s already pumping out there, and there aren’t too many people around at this stage. Best time to lock in.

2026 SEASON IS HERE

There are a few open slots on the Surfing Doctors roster at Grajagan, East Java, running through April, May and into the following months. The program is already in motion, and these gaps need to be filled by members who know the drill or who want to get started.

CHECK OUT THE ROSTER for availability

Grajagan, East Java

The Jawa Jiwa camp sits on the Grajagan peninsula inside Alas Purwo National Park, a stretch of protected coastline that feels properly removed from everything. The bay bends around in a long arc, open to the Indian Ocean, with swell marching in and wrapping down the reef in long, organised lines. Kongs, Money Trees, Launch Pads and Speed Reef are the main sections. On certain days and tides, there is The Ledge, The Cobra and Quicksilvers, Tiger Tracks, and 20/20’s are just around the corner. There is a river mouth inside the bay, and there are rights around the corner for the rainy season. Plenty of options for all levels of surfers. The jungle presses right up to the edge of the setup, and once you are in there, the outside world drops away pretty quickly.

Access is part of the experience. It is a committed trip in and out, which is exactly what keeps it intact. Bus, boat, plane, helicopter, and everything in between. The camp itself runs in a contained footprint along the bay.

The Camp Flow

The Surfing Doctors presence at Jawa Jiwa Surf Camp is well established. The camp itself is dialled. It attracts a steady mix of travelling surfers, return guests and long-stay crew, so there is always a good energy running through it. The Surfing Doctors have a great set-up at the camp. There’s also good coffee, cold Bintangs, and great food.

The Window

The current gaps sit across a solid stretch of the season. April into May and beyond is a reliable window at Grajagan. For those who have done time there before, you know exactly what that means. Pumping early season waves, the start of good winds, and plenty of time to get waves, as well as get the necessary work done.

The Roster

There are only a handful of positions to fill, and once they are taken, the roster will become tight. There are currently gaps in the active schedule that need names assigned to them. Check it out,

Also, the Surfing Doctors will hold their Annual Conference at the Jawa Jiwa camp from 20-27 September. So put that in the mix as well. In the famous words of Grajagan pioneer Gerry Lopez, ‘If you’ve surfed G-Land once, you’ll come back, for sure.”

Lock It In

If you have been thinking about joining the Surfing Doctors or doing a G-Land stint, this is a good moment to step in. Who knows, apart from doing good work, you might get the wave of your life.

Contact the Surfing Doctors here:

Read more:

Gavin Sandercoe joins the crew.

Our latest recruit – Nicholas Rex

The post The Surfing Doctors Early Season G-Land Roster Is Wide Open appeared first on Surfing Doctors.

Nationality
Australian

Current Position
Orthopaedic surgeon
Currently preparing for peri-fellowship exams

Education and Work Experience
Exercise Physiology
Physiotherapy
Orthopaedics

Medical Interests
Spine orthopaedics. That is the area of focus and where I am building my career.

Local Surf Spot
Grew up surfing Currimundi.
Then spent more than ten years around Mermaid Beach and Nobby Beach on the Gold Coast.
More recently, time between the Mornington Peninsula and southern Tasmania.

Favourite Surf Destination
Wherever the boys are frothing, the waves are pumping and the crowds are low.

Travel Experience
Top to bottom. Covered a lot of ground, always chasing waves along the way.

Best Surf Trip
Arctic Circle. Cold, remote and completely unique.

Worst Surf Trip
Hard to call one. Every trip has something in it.

Best Thing About Surfing
Sharing a proper wave with a mate

Best Advice
Commit fully when you go

Favourite Surfer
Whoever is enjoying it the most

Current Go-To Boards
7’1” Yoshiro Takeda, shaped at Burleigh Heads
A solid all-round board

5’10” Eagle Sword

Social
Prefers to stay off social platforms.

Read more: Meet our latest recruit, Nicholas Rex

The post SDJ Morgan appeared first on Surfing Doctors.

Nationality
Australian

Current Position
Currently working in ED on the Sunshine Coast

Education and Work Experience
Completed studies across Far North Queensland
Returned south following graduation and have worked the last two years on the Sunshine Coast

Medical Interests
I enjoy working in the ED. I am still deciding on a training pathway, with FACEM the likely direction, although ACRRM remains an option.

Local Surf Spot
Alex Heads and Marcoola

Favourite Surf Destination
Red Bluff, Western Australia

Travel Experience

Best Surf Trip
Road trip down the west coast of Mexico. The Guerrero region stood out, with long lefts, light crowds and plenty of tacos. Keen to get back.

Worst Surf Trip
Canggu, Bali. Only made it into the water once. Too many distractions.

Best Thing About Surfing
Sunrises and calling your mates onto waves

Best Advice
It is always better in the water than it looks from the carpark

Favourite Surfer
JJF. The recent sailing edits have been standout.

Current Go-To Board
Lost Stub Driver
6’0

Social
Instagram: Djknightshifta

Read more: Latest recruit Gavin Sandercoe

The post Nicholas Rex appeared first on Surfing Doctors.

Nationality
Australian

Current Position
VMO Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon in private practice

Education and Work Experience
Undergraduate degree from the University of Sydney
Specialist training across major teaching hospitals in Sydney

Medical Interests
Breast and body contouring across a wide range of indications. My fellowship focused on advanced maxillofacial trauma, which was a highly technical and rewarding space. Over time, my practice has aligned with local demand, and I am very comfortable with where that has led in terms of focus and scope.

Local Surf Spot
Home is about an hour from the nearest beach, so regular surf access is limited. Sydney URBNSURF is much closer and fills the gap. Most of our real beach time happens in Byron Bay during school holidays, where we spend more time as a family than I do at any Sydney beach.

Favourite Surf Destination
The Maldives for pure surfing. Kandooma stands out as a family favourite, where my son and I had an incredible trip and surfed as much as possible. Costa Rica and Morocco were also standout destinations for the cultural side of travel.

Travel Experience
Some, but never enough.

Best Surf Trip
Kandooma in the Maldives. Como in the Maldives, on a surf progression week, was a very close second.

Worst Surf Trip
My first trip to the Telos in Indonesia. I was underskilled and intimidated by the reef, and on most days I did not catch a wave.

Best Advice
I follow Clayton from SurfLab and Ombe and his approach to explaining surfing. His insight into applying pressure to the tail while paddling into waves changed my positioning and immediately increased my wave count.

Favourite Surfer
I do not follow professional surfing closely enough to give a detailed answer. Laird Hamilton stands out for his innovation and influence.

Current Go-To Boards
Vessel Vanquish
6’2” x 21 3/16 x 2 13/16 – 42.3L

Hayden Shapes Hypto Krypto
6’0” x 20.5 x 2.75 – 36.3L
This is the preferred board when I am feeling confident.

Read more: Meet the crew: Mtchell Woods

The post Gavin Sandercoe appeared first on Surfing Doctors.

Nationality
USA – grew up in the mountains near Lake Tahoe on a snowboard, but have since converted to surfing… more or less.

Current Position
Engineer Paramedic

Education and Work Experience
Bachelor’s Degree from Cal Poly University
EMT training at UCLA
Paramedic certification from Allan Hancock College
10 years as a Firefighter Medic

Medical Interests
Providing care in the field. As an EMT, watching doctors intubate, start IVs and deliver treatment in a controlled, sterile environment always fascinated me. It felt like the next level would be doing this outside of the ER, in a more raw and unpredictable setting. Now, as a paramedic, I get to do that every day.

Alongside standard urban medical calls, our department covers a large rural open-space area. This often turns trauma and medical incidents into complex situations requiring creative extrication plans. Working with helicopters and UTVs to access and transport patients from remote locations is one of the most rewarding parts of the job.

Local Surf Spot
The Central Coast has a wide range of quality waves – raw, powerful conditions with everything from beach breaks to reefs and points. The best part is the big, hungry locals that keep crowds low. It is often possible to surf pumping waves alone or with just a friend.

Favourite Surf Destination
O’ahu, North Shore. My older sister lives there, so it is a perfect combination of family time and consistent surf.

Travel Experience
Indonesia – Mentawais, G-Land, Bali
Central America, including Costa Rica
Strike missions to Mexico and the Hawaiian Islands

Best Surf Trip
Costa Rica – scored quality waves every day for a month and lived off ceviche and mangoes.

Worst Surf Trip
Got seriously ill with an ear infection, sinus infection and heavy food poisoning from where I was staying. The only thing I could keep down was fruit. Fortunately, it was all point breaks, so I could surf and then walk back to the top. Still scored incredible waves, which made up for it, but the nights dragged.

Best Thing About Surfing
The places it takes you and the feeling of a good incoming swell.

Best Advice
Surf what the wave gives you.

Favourite Surfer
Jimbo Pellegrine – big, powerful, throws buckets and gets more tube time than most. That combination is hard to beat.

Current Go-To Board
6’3” El Diablo – rounded pin twin fin by Northern Alliance

Social
Instagram: mitchell.s.woods

Read more: Jamie Novak joins the Surfing Doctors

The post Mitchell Woods appeared first on Surfing Doctors.

Nationality
Australian

Current Position
Paramedic and third-year medical student, currently working with QAS in Brisbane. Balancing shifts on the road with the demands of medical school keeps things busy, but it also builds a strong foundation across both pre-hospital and clinical environments.

Education and Work Experience
Pat studied Paramedic Science at QUT and is now completing his medical degree through OUM. His experience extends beyond Australia, with time spent working on ski fields in New Zealand and volunteering in Papua New Guinea. Those stints added a layer of real-world exposure, from remote medicine to high-pressure response work in unpredictable conditions.

Medical Interests
Emergency and critical care stand out as natural fits, shaped by his time as a paramedic. For now, the focus stays broad, with an open approach to clinical rotations and internship opportunities. The plan is to let experience in different departments guide the long-term direction.

Local Surf Spots
The Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast provide the regular fix, depending on conditions and time off.

Favourite Surf Destination
Yamba. Consistent, clean and always worth the trip.

Travel and Surf Experience
Surf travel has not been the main focus so far. Time in Papua New Guinea came before surfing really took hold, which feels like a missed opportunity in hindsight. More recently, a trip to Mauritius delivered a standout moment, with a few days at Tamarin Bay that left a lasting impression. That session alone helped build a growing list of destinations still to come.

Worst Surf Trip
Still to be experienced.

Best Thing About Surfing
The combination of exercise and time in the ocean. Simple, consistent and hard to beat.

Best Advice
Keep it simple. Head up, eyes down the line.

Favourite Surfer
John John Florence. World-class surfing, plus a lifestyle that includes a very good boat.

Current Boards
Firewire Dominator.

Final Word
Quick to point out that he is still finding his feet in the water, Pat approaches surfing the same way he approaches his career. Keep improving, stay consistent and enjoy the process along the way. ‘The people you meet along the journey are part of the reward.’

Instagram
@pat.taylor94

Read more: William Matthews is coming to the Melbourne Wavepool Conference

The post Pat Taylor is heading to the Surfing Doctors Wellness wavepool conference appeared first on Surfing Doctors.

Nationality? 

Australian

Current Position? 

Intern at Tweed Valley Hospital

Education and work experience? 

Studied at Newcastle through the JMP

Medical interests? Have you found your niche?

I have enjoyed basically all the specialities I have been exposed to, so I think I would enjoy a career in emergency medicine or GP/generalist, but am keen to see what the next few years bring!

Local surf spot? 

Originally Stockton Beach, Newcastle

In the Gold Coast area really been enjoying Cabarita and Lennox

What is your favourite surf destination? 

Hard to beat Macaroni’s as a goofy footer, but my favourite place to surf when it is good (very rarely) is my home beach of Stockton with all my mates

Travel experience? 

Been fortunate enough to travel quite a bit and surf some unique locations, including living in Southern California for a little while.

I have spent time in South & Central America, made multiple trips to Indonesia and other parts of Asia, and completed a medical placement in Tanzania, which was amazing.

I also love snowboarding and have been very lucky to travel to Japan, Canada, and Europe to board.

Best surf trip ever? 

My favourite surf trip would be exploring Northern Peru. Got to surf waves like Chicama and Cabo Blanco with a solid swell. It was not an easy place to get to, but it got really fun, long, barrelling waves and made for an amazing experience.

Worst surf trip ever? 

Mexico in 2019 – terrible surf, terrific tequila

Best thing about surfing? 

Exercise, being in the ocean, and being with mates – no better combo

Best advice you were ever given with regards to surfing? 
To square your shoulders in the barrel and through turns

Favourite surfer in the world and why? 

Mick Fanning – the first surfer I really started watching religiously when I started.

Able to win titles in the Kelly and Irons era, which made for some of the best heats to watch.

Also, I really enjoy Ethan Ewing’s surfing, probably because of the similar rail game.

Current go-to surfboards? (make and dims) 

Been surfing a 6’6 Jye Burns pulled in twin pin recently and have really enjoyed something with a-bit more length for the points around the Gold Coast. Finding it makes me surf a whole lot more.

Otherwise my standard short board is 6’0 by 19 ½, 21/2 thick

Instagram?

Will_matthews56

Read more: Meet The Crew

The post William Matthews is coming to the Melbourne Wavepool Conference appeared first on Surfing Doctors.

Current Position?
Second year medical student.

Education and work experience?
I completed a Bachelor of Science followed by a Master’s in Management. I am currently in Postgraduate Year Two of my medical studies at the University of Wollongong. Alongside my studies, I have also worked as a freelance technology consultant for start-ups, helping early-stage companies navigate technical challenges and digital strategy.

Medical interests? Have you found your niche?
TBC. At the moment, I am particularly interested in emergency medicine and working in low-resource environments. The Rural Generalism pathway also appeals to me, especially the opportunity to practice in regional and remote communities where adaptability and broad clinical skills are important.

Local surf spot?
South Werri, Gerringong.

What is your favourite surf destination?
Mentawais or Sumbawa.

Travel experience? Best surf trip ever?
Samoa.

Worst surf trip ever?
Canggu.

Best thing about surfing?
Slow times with good company and a bit of adrenaline.

Best advice you were ever given with regards to surfing?
It’s all about time in the water.

Favourite surfer in the world and why?
John John Florence. Mad skills.

Current go-to surfboards? (make and dims)
Anything Pyzel.

Instagram?
@eddiedostinephoto

See more

Jeremy Lynch is coming to the Melbourne Wavepool Conference

Profiles: -Troy Denholm

The post Edward Dostine and the Surfing Doctors Wellness Wavepool Conference, URBNSurf Melbourne appeared first on Surfing Doctors.